Card stock and finishes

Card stock is measured in GSM, grams per square meter, which describes the paper's weight and roughly its thickness and stiffness. Board game cards typically run from about 270gsm to 350gsm, with 300gsm to 310gsm being the common standard for a quality deck. Lighter stock feels flimsy and wears fast. Heavier stock feels premium but shuffles stiffly and costs more. If your game involves constant shuffling, the standard 300gsm range is usually the right call.

Core color matters more than most new publishers realize. Playing card stock is made of layers glued around a central core, and the core is dyed blue, black, or grey (or left white) to block light. Black-core and blue-core stocks are opaque, so cards cannot be read through when held up to a light, which matters for any game with hidden information. Grey-core and white-core are cheaper and less opaque. For most hobby games, blue-core or black-core around 300gsm is the expected spec.

Finish is the surface treatment. A linen finish embosses a subtle crosshatch texture into the card, which hides scratches and fingerprints, reduces glare, and helps cards slide over each other when shuffling. It is the finish players associate with quality playing cards. Smooth finish shows art slightly more crisply but scuffs visibly. On top of either, varnish or lamination coatings add durability, with matte and gloss options. Linen with a standard varnish is the safe default for a card-heavy hobby game.

When quoting, specify all three: weight, core, and finish, for example "300gsm blue-core, linen finish." If a quote just says "art paper" or omits the core, ask. Downgrading card stock is one of the quietest ways a cheap quote gets cheap, and players absolutely notice cards that feel thin or can be read from behind.